The N.C . State women’s rugby team will be looking for revenge as they play UNC for the second time this season. The Wolfpack lost their first match by a score of 36 to 24. Even though the Pack came up on the wrong side of the scoreboard, the team was not at full strength, according to Katy Walls.
“We were missing some key starters, so we were not 100 percent,” Walls said. “To come that close to beating them without those players was impressive.”
With the team having its starters back for this match, the Wolfpack are poised to challenge UNC on the pitch. According to Walls, the contest against UNC is more than just another match.
“There have been very few matches that we have played that are more important than this one,” Walls said. “A win against our rivals would give us a huge boost in momentum as we look forward to nationals.”
Besides a couple of matches, the Wolfpack have demolished almost every opponent who has stepped onto the pitch. Some of the score lines include a 56-22 win against East Carolina University and an 80-0 drubbing of the University of South Carolina.
According to Crystal Martinez, UNC has proved to be a formidable opponent in women’s rugby at the collegiate level.
“They are definitely the team to beat,” Martinez said. “We just want to go out there and prove that we can win the match.”
The Wolfpack will look to control the ball and play a very physical game, according to Martinez.
“The one thing that we focused on in practice is playing together and working as one unit,” Martinez said. “We have to trust in one another and make sure that everyone is doing their job so that we can win the match.”
In the sport of rugby, being physical is a big part of the game, and the Wolfpack have shown in recent matches they can impose their will against their opponents. The Pack will look to continue their physical mentality as they play their crosstown rivals.
According to Head Coach Matty Cartwright, being a consistent defensive tackling team will be the key to obtaining the victory in this match.
“We want to work mainly as a solid defensive unit and also be sound when it comes to tackling defense,” said Cartwright.
In the previous match against UNC , Cartwright pointed out that the Tar Heels played one of their more physical games this season.
“After the game last time, their coach came up to me and said that he had never seen UNC play that physical before,” said Cartwright.
When asked what the team needed to do to secure a victory, Cartwright said that his team needed to play together and control the ball at all times.
“I want to stay away from a territorial game like UNC likes to play. I want to focus on keeping control of the ball and play the ball through,” Cartwright said. “I have some very physical backline players that we can utilize which will open up our talented forwards.”
With national implications as well as pride on the line, tomorrow’s match will be nothing less than a drama-filled battle. The start of the match is set for 7:30 p.m . and will be played at the Method Road Fields.
